Casio AP420 Celviano Digital Piano with Bench Review

After years of playing my Yamaha DGX-500, I was looking to upgrade my digital piano to something that had graded hammer action, that would look nice in my living room, and that sounded as close to an acoustic piano as possible.I also wanted to spend around a thousand bucks.The Casio AP420, seemed to fit the bill, and having played other Casio digital pianos in my local music store (PX800, PX330, AP200), I was fairly confident in making this purchase from Amazon, sight-unseen.

The mangled box arrived in less than a week, looking like it had fallen off the truck or had been used for target practice.I was almost afraid to look inside.Fortunately, the engineers who designed the packaging did a marvelous job.Every piece was removed from the box in perfect condition.Assembly of the piano was not difficult, took less than an hour, and really did require two people.

The cabinet of the AP420 is quite attractive.I like the sliding keyboard cover, and the faux front legs of the piano, which really make it look less like a keyboard and more like an actual piece of furniture.The pedal board is quite solid, and the action of the brass pedals is firm.The included bench is built like a tank.I'm a rather big guy, and the bench easily supports my weight.The bench is height-adjustable, which is nice, but there is no way to store music inside it.The modesty panel (the back of the piano) covers all but about a 1 inch gap across the top.The gap is visible only when looking at the rear of the piano, or bending over and looking under the keyboard.Having no visible gaps in the back panel where you can see through the piano, helps give the illusion that the piano is deeper than it really is, making it look more like it's in an actual cabinet.One negative point, the music stand is not hinged. Rather, it has two pins that are inserted into holes in the top of the piano.The music stand feels sturdy enough, but the way it attaches seems kind of cheap.

The action on the AP-420 is very nice.The key surfaces (texture) have an ivory feel to them, rather than a cheap plastic feel like most other digital pianos (including some that are WAY more expensive).The action is solid, the keys don't wiggle, and the overall feel is as close to an acoustic piano as I have encountered in a digital.Now, there is a slight 'thump' sound when the keys are fully depressed (seems to be a Casio DP trait), even when the keys are played with just moderate force.This is slightly annoying, but is not really noticeable when wearing headphones, or when the volume is turned up.

The sound quality of the piano samples is probably my chief complaint.The 2x20W built in speakers/amplifier provide ample sound, which is clear, and undistorted.But the piano samples sound slightly muffled to me.This could be because the speakers point downward out of the keyboard sending sound waves directly into my carpeting.There are some attractive fabric-covered 'ports' on the left and right sides above the keyboard that I assume are there to allow some passive speaker sound emanate from the top side of the keyboard. But from what I can hear, 95 percent of the sound comes from the bottom.When playing through headphones, the piano samples sound quite a bit better.The brightness/timbre of the tones is adjustable, but the piano samples seem to take on a 'tinny' sound if adjusted from their default setting.Overall, the piano sounds are not bad; they're just not quite as good as I was hoping for.

One other nitpicky thing: There are only 7 buttons to control all of the the piano settings. For most options, you have to hold down the function button, and then locate the appropriate key on the piano keyboard to set/change the option.Some options are lightly labeled above the keys.Others (like reverb, chorus, tuning) are unmarked, and so you have to look in the manual to find out which keys to press.Fortunately, once you have configured the piano the way you want (pitch, reverb, touch, brightness) you can save your settings, so that it will remember them the next time you turn it on. (Unfortunately, the 'save' key isn't marked either, so you'll have to look that one up in the manual.)

Some other nifty things I like:
- SD card slot for saving midi recordings, or loading midi files.
- Adjustable reverb
- Three level adjustable touch response
- USB port (note that this piano does not have an actual MIDI port.If you need to interface with a MIDI device, you'll need to get a USB to MIDI adapter.)
- Layering of sounds (play strings and piano at the same time)
- Split keyboard (i.e. play string bass with left hand, vibra-phone with right.)
- Duet Mode (splits the keyboard into two equal pitch ranges for playing duets that might otherwise require two pianos.)
- The pedals support 'half-pedaling'
- It has a true sostenuto pedal (only dampens notes that are pressed prior to pressing the sos. pedal.)
- Two 1/4" stereo headphone jacks.
- Two 1/4" mono right/left line out jacks

I've rated it 5 stars since fractional stars aren't allowed.My personal rating is more like 4.5 stars, so I just rounded up.When looking at the features and quality, I don't think there's anything else on the market in this price range that even comes close to this instrument.I hope you enjoy yours as much as I like mine.

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Product Description:
The Casio AP420 Celviano Digital Piano features state-of-the-art high-end digital pianos.The newly developed sound source - Linear Morphing AiF - offers the entire spectrum of authentic grand piano tones from Pianissimo to Fortissimo without abrupt changes to the sound during the transitions. The touch and note replay behavior for the scaled hammer action keyboards has been improved. The new "Tri-Sensor" concept makes even the most complex and demanding playing techniques possible. Developing virtuosos. Virtuoso playing.

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Korg SP170BK 88-key Digital Slab Piano With Speakers Black Review

I debated between this, the SP250, Yamaha P85, and the Casio PX-130/330. After trying the Casios and not liking to sound of them, and deciding that the SP250 was a bit expensive and heavy, I had a hard time deciding between the SP170 and P85. Both are excellent and have similar features. The SP170 is a little cheaper and looks a bit sleaker. The P85 has a couple extra functions (like layering and a metronome). I chose the SP170 and have been very happy with my decision. All 10 voices sound great, the speakers are plenty loud, and the keys feel very good, like a real piano. I bought mine online in a "bundle" and am very satisfied with all components.

There are no buttons on the keyboard (just a volume and on/off switch on the back). I was worried that changes voices would be a pain, and while it is slightly awkward, it really is not a big deal. I just wish there was a way to tell if reverb and chorus were on or off.

An excellent digital piano for the price!

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Product Description:
Compact, unobtrusive, and designed for the modern world, the SP-170 Digital Piano solidly delivers the essential elements of a piano: rich, vibrant sounds and an authentic grand piano feel. Styled to mimic an acoustic piano, the SP-170 boasts a simple and clean design which eliminates the need for a control panel. In place of knobs, buttons and switches, the SP-170 relies on the keys themselves to perform these functions. The built-in stereo sound system features two efficient speakers housed in a bass reflex enclosure to deliver powerful sound. You can choose from two colors --- chic black and elegant white --- to match the décor of any room. The SP-170 is also lightweight and easy to transport, making it an ideal choice for concerts or live use.

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Casio PX-800 Privia Digital Piano with Weighted Scaled Hammer Action Keys Review

Casio PX800 Privia Digital Piano with Weighted Scaled Hammer Action Keys

My wife and I own a large Steinway grand piano and a small harpsichord in our living room. We bought this digital piano as a replacement of our old MIDI keyboard and for nighttime practice.

Casio PX800 has an excellent speaker set and a realistic keyboard. Although its tuning isn't perfect (like any acoustic piano and harpsichord), it produces a great sound. As a piano with a full size keyboard and three pedals, its footprint is surprisingly, and pleasantly, small.

Its USB-MIDI functionality is also fantastic and extremely easy to use. Thanks to ferland.francois, this Casio keyboard is now Mac compatible. (Casio supports Windows only.)

Not only does this piano function as a great stand-alone musical instrument with an ample set of features and realistic touch, but also it works as an excellent input device for Apple's GarageBand.

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Product Description:
The PX-800 takes digital piano sound quality to a new level. Grand piano sound and feel in an elegant integrated stand with built-in SD card slot and expanded song memory. State of the artsampling engineering provides the most advanced acoustic piano sound in a digital piano. The stylish PX-800 is sure to fit in any décor.


The PX-800 takes digital piano sound quality to a new level.Click to enlarge.
88 full-size, weighted scaled hammer-action keys,
The stylish PX-800 is sure to fit in any décor.
Realistic Piano Sound and Feel
With stereo sampled pianos and an advanced filter that ensures notes change and decay naturally, along with 128-note polyphony so no notes are cut off, the PX-800 delivers a realistic and natural piano sound.
Touch-sensitive keys mean the sound source responds to how much pressure is applied to the keyboard, providing you with the means to shape and color your performances with everything from booming fortissimos to delicate pianissimos.
Finally, the custom wooden stand with damper and soft/sostenuto pedals gives you a more piano-like elegance, to suit any room in your home.
Powerful Audio
With a built-in, two-way 40-watt speaker system, the PX-800 delivers room-filling sound.
162 Built-In Tones
Pianos aren't the only sounds included. Find just the right sound with 162 built-in tones. You can layer two different tones (such as piano and strings) or split the keyboard down the middle for an ensemble approach.
On-Board Effects
Select from four reverb and four chorus effects to add depth and shimmer to your performance. The PX-800 also features an Acoustic Resonance effect, which reproduces the harmonic resonance within a grand piano.
In addition, each tone is preset with its own DSP effect, such as the rotary speaker effect on the drawbar organ tone.
Song Library
60 songs are included, along with 10 user songs. You can turn off the right or left hand part for easy learning.
Real-Time Recording
Record two tracks of performance for instant playback. You can record up to five songs, approximately 50,000 notes total.
The included SD card slot lets you add to that recording time.
Two Headphone Connections
The PX-800 features two headphone connections, ideal for the duet function.
Stereo Line Out
Connect to a PA system or studio equipment using the stereo line inputs.
What's in the Box
Privia PX-575 Keyboard, AC Adaptor, Music Stand, User's Manual

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Williams Symphony Elite Digital Piano Review

My 8 year old son has been taking piano lessons for almost 2 years and has a real talent for it.His piano teacher uses a Casio keyboard that has a foot pedal attached.She kept advising me that he needed a pedal for his keyboard to sustain notes.His Casio "Magic Light" keyboard was purchased 10 years ago as a birthday present for my husband (which he never used). It works great, but doesn't support a foot pedal.Also, the cheaper keyboards do not duplicate the "hammer-action" weighted response of keys on a real piano.Lastly, a full-size keyboard is 88 keys, but ours had only 60 something. I was having a discussion with his piano teacher as to my options.Buying a new piano was out of the question; we're talking 10-20 thousand dollars.However, you can purchase second hand pianos for a few thousand dollars, or "adopt" a used piano for nothing but the cost of having it delivered.A guitar teacher overheard us and offered a wonderful alternative: a digital piano.As he said, "It looks like a real piano, it sounds like a real piano, but it doesn't cost as much as a real piano."He advised us to visit a Cafe next store which had a digital piano in the back.We did, and it was a Yamaha digital piano.It had a brown wood finish and an understated beauty.I immediately was excited and would have gone out that day to buy one.My son was not equally excited, however.It did not look like a real piano to him (which he still wanted).I went online and looked at other brands of digital pianos and noticed the "Williams Symphony Elite Digital Piano."My son was hooked when he saw this one.It looks very much like a real piano.I purchased it online (it costs $899 at virtually any site you order it from).There are two other models: the Williams Console digital piano, which looks to be a regular digital piano with no bells and whistles and it looks like black wood; the next level one is the Williams Overture 88-key digital piano.It has all sorts of digital effects and also has the black wood.The Williams website compares the "Overture" model and the "Symphony Elite" model as the difference between driving a Cadillac and a Bentley. You're paying a few hundred extra for the glossy black finish, more digital effects, etc.Not knowing much about the technical details, I decided to go with the "Bentley" of the Williams line, the Symphony Elite.I would rather spend a little extra and have a piano that will last my son for several years as he expands his technical knowlege.The piano arrived two days ago.My husband said it was delivered curbside by UPS Roadway.This is because the box is quite heavy.He had to open the box in our sunporch and carry pieces upstairs to our second floor individually. I wasn't home when he assembled the piano, but he had no complaints of it being difficult.When he called me at work after assembling it, he referred to it as being a "monstrosity".It measures approximately 55 inches across the top. It has a glossy black finish like a grand piano.The music rest is gorgeous.It has a stainless steel "W" logo on it.There are two shiny brass little wands that can be pulled up to support your songbook or music sheets.This is a great improvement over the steel wire that didn't hold up much of anything on his old Casio Magic Light.Also, there is the delightful keyboard cover that slides out over the keys, again, just like a real piano.Finally, there are the three foot pedals identical to a real piano.Just as a piece of furniture, it is aesthetically beautiful.I don't pretend to know all of the technical details (you can find them listed under the piano picture above), but it has over a hundred voices, effects, demos, computer connectivity via USB, and the ability to record yourself. Hidden discreetly under the piano to your left are jacks for using headphones,USB/MIDI and to plug in a microphone. It also has a metronome.My son sounds great when he uses the church organ voice.The beauty of this piano is not only in its appearance, but in the freedom to enjoy the various effects of a keyboard.When my son plays this piano, it looks like I should put a candelabra on top of it!He is very happy, because he feels like he is playing a real piano.

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Product Description:
The Williams Symphony Digital Piano combines realistic voices with excellent playability. Players can choose the clear tone of 138 different instruments or use among 100 different rhythm styles for fully orchestrated compositions. The Symphony Piano provides an endless source of musical enjoyment in a luxurious black gloss finish cabinet with sliding key-cover.

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Yamaha YDPS31 Arius Console Piano With Folding Key Cover And 3-Pedal Cabinet. Review

I've had the digital piano for about 1 year already and still loving it. Totally converted to a believer in digital piano.Even though it is in the lower end of the line, it doens't feel that way.The weighted keys have a real acoustic piano feel to it, and it is very sensitive to touch. The sounds are beautiful.It actually sounds better and feel better than the 15 year old acoustic piano that I had when I started learning piano as a kid.The most beautiful part of it is that I can play it in the middle of the night without waking anyone up.

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Product Description:
A competitively-priced, contemporary-designed digital piano with Dark Alder finish cabinet and Graphite-colored key-bed.Soft-Shut key cover, improved pedal frame, and GHS natural touch action means you get a basic, affordable digital piano from a music manufacturer you can trust.

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Casio PX-330 88 Key Digital Stage Piano with Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action Review

This review is for the Casio Privia PX330:

Overall I really like this keyboard for practicing quietly at night and for connecting to a computer.I've been playing it for about a month.Here are my thoughts so far:

Key Touch Sensitivity:
The Casio web site advertisement states: "authentic piano touch that captures every detail and nuance of your performance".If that is your expectation, you will probably be disappointed with this keyboard.I have compared the Casio with two pianos that I play regularly (a Yamaha Baby Grand and a Spinet) and the Casio falls short of both pianos in this area.The Casio keys feel harder to press and do not have the volume/pressure sensitivity or dynamic range of the real pianos.

On the up side I will say that the Casio keyboard touch feels much better than other electronic keyboards I have tried in this price range and it also does a decent job of changing the volume depending upon how hard you press the keys.

Sound:
The keyboard sound using my own headphones (Sony MDR-V6) is great.The on-board speakers are ok, but sound a bit muffled on some of the piano styles.(Fortunately you can buy external speakers and connect them to this keyboard.)

Construction.
The keyboard is fairly light weight and not too hard to move around (although I'd wish it had carrying handles).The plastic music stand (included) and parts of the keyboard appear a bit on the thin side.

The keys visually look large, but I can't really explain why.I measured the entire width of all the keys and it is a match to my real piano.

Connectivity:
I've used the USB connection to my computer with no problems (Windows XP).

Functions:
Tons of functionality.The ones I've tried work well.Selecting some of functions can be a bit confusing though (pressing combinations of buttons, etc.), so I find myself going back to the manual to look up how to select them.

Misc:
- It comes with a nice printed manual.
- The sustain function using the included pedal does not seem to carry out the piano tone long enough, although it does vary depending upon what type of sound you have selected.(I don't know if the sustain length is a function of the pedal or the keyboard.)

Also note that there is a very nice Casio video showing this keyboard on YouTube.Search for "Casio Privia PX130 Preview".The video review is done with the Casio PX-130 which I think is the same keyboard as the 330 one with a few less functions.

Conclusion:
If you are looking to duplicate the sound/feel of a real piano, this is probably not the right keyboard for you.If you're looking for a really nice digital piano with touch sensitivity and lots fun features, then this is a nice choice.

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Product Description:
The new Casio Privia PX-330 redefines the digital piano category with unprecedented sound quality and performance in a sleek package that is supremely portable. Featuring all new grand piano samples and a new Tri-Sensor 88-note scaled hammer action keyboard and weighing only 26 lbs., the Casio Privia PX-330 is versatile enough for any home, studio or stage.


A sleek, portable digital piano with great piano samples and a wealth of other features. Click to enlarge.
A grand piano sound with seamless transitions and a superior dynamic range.
Add a wooden stand and three-pedal unit for an even more piano-like experience.
Realism, Expression and Dynamics
The grand piano sounds in the PX-330 delivers an unprecedented level of realism and expression. Four dynamic layers of stereo piano samples are integrated with Casio's proprietary Linear Morphing System, for a grand piano sound with seamless transitions and a superior dynamic range. For added realism, the PX-330 simulates the sound of the open strings when the dampers are raised by the pedal using Acoustic Resonance DSP. The PX-330 also has 128-note polyphony, enough horsepower for the most demanding musical passages and the ability to layer sounds and use the damper pedal without worry of dropped notes. The result is a grand piano experience that is unsurpassed at any price.
Truly Expressive Touch
The Privia PX-330 features a new Tri-Sensor 88-note scaled hammer action keyboard. Casio's superior engineering has resulted in an authentic piano touch that captures every detail and nuance of your performance. This scaled hammer action provides the weight, feel and resistance of a piano without sacrificing the portability of the instrument.
Performance, Studio or Stage
The superior keyboard action, piano sound and built-in USB MIDI interface make the PX-330 the perfect instrument to integrate into your studio. When you're ready to take the PX-330 to a gig, the built-in registration memory allows you to instantly recall splits, layers and combinations of sounds. The PX-330 also has 1/4-inch outputs for great live sound from your amp or the house's PA system.
16-Track Recorder, Pitchbend Wheel and Much More
While it's easy to connect the PX-330 to your computer, you can easily create and compose music using internal 16 track recorder. Utilizing the PX-330's 250 on-board sounds and 180 rhythms you can record up to 16 tracks. Accepting SD memory, you can save your songs and take them with you or load standard MIDI files that you've downloaded from the web. With these flexible tools you can capture moments of creativity and remember song ideas. It also works great as a practice tool. A built-in metronome and optional accompaniment mean you can practice in-time and later listen back to what you just played. A pitchbend wheel gives you full expression for 250 tones. You can even plug in other instruments or an MP3 player into the keyboard and hear it through the internal speakers and headphones.
Professional, Versatile and Portable Design
Whether you're at home, working on a studio or out on stage, the PX-330 was created to tackle it all, making it a valuable investment. With its light weight, you can easily take the PX-330 from home, to rehearsals, to the gig and back with no worries. It connects effortlessly to your computer via USB and connects just as easily to a live mixer for use on stage. The Casio PX-330 is now the indisputable leader in the digital piano arena.
8 Digital Effects
Add a little more depth and variation to the built-in tones with 4 reverb and 4 chorus effects, along with brilliance and acoustic resonance settings.
Duet Function
The new duet functions allows teachers and pupils to play parallel to each other. The PX-120 can be divided into two keyboard areas, which can be transposed individually.
Two Headphone Connections
The PX-330 features two headphone connections, ideal for the duet function.
Stereo Line In/Out
Connect to a PA system or studio equipment, or connect other sound sources with the line inputs.
Powerful Speaker System
The PX-330 features built-in speakers, with 2 x 8 Watts of output power, to fill a room with sound.
3-Pedal Unit Support
With the optional SP-30, the PX-320 has up to three pedals with half-damper effect. This "half-damper" effect simulates a "half-pedaled" damper pedal.
What's in the Box
Privia PX-330 Keyboard, AC Adapter, Music Stand, User's Manual

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Yamaha YPG635 88 Key Weighted Portable Grand Review

If you've ever moved a real piano, you know the problem. Moving a piano needs to be done by a professional. Pianos need tuning.

But, at the same time, nothing is quite like a real piano. The feel of playing one, the sound - hundreds of years of development have combined to bring the sound and feel to its current state and, when it all comes together, there is nothing quite like it.

But that comes at a price. Did I mention tuning? Action tuneups?

So was developed the keyboard - and the keyboard feels like a keyboard - the action is wrong. And it does not have the rich sound of a piano.

So we arrived at the electric piano. Early electric pianos were neither fish nor foul - they were partially mechanical devices that still needed to be mechanically tuned. The actions were more or less horrible. The sound was that of an electric piano, not a real piano.

The Yamaha sounds like a piano - within the limitations of its speakers.Its action? Better than some real pianos and much less likely to need an action tuneup.

And all the benefits that you can get from modern electronics. Full DSP so that you can get simulated concert hall acoustics if you want.

This is an amazing item. It comes with 30 songs programmed into it, and 70 more on an included CD - and if you are inclined to learn them, it can teach them to you. More music can be downloaded using the software provided and your computer can load them into the piano or you can use a thumb drive to move them. You can learn the left and right hand parts separately. It will show you the music, and the corresponding piano keys that you need to press on the little display. You can start slow - and it will wait, patiently, until you find and press the correct key.

(For Christmas I downloaded a number of Christmas Carols in Standard Midi Format - put them on a USB thumb drive and then plugged the thumb drive into the piano - it was able to play all of them as a midi player - and, for at least some of them, it could teach them to you - I believe that it may be a matter of determining how to select the right ans left hand parts, which I have not managed to do yet - the instructions are not simple. But it worked instantly as a player piano).

At the same time it accompanies you, or not, as you choose.

I first tried this piano in a store - it was lined up with a bunch of other electrics and it had the best action of any of them - the action was clearly the most piano like - in fact, I thought that it had a better feel than some of the real pianos, in terms of consistency and smoothness while still being weighted properly.

The triple pedal attachment gives you a soft pedal, a full sustain, and a left hand sustain, just as the better pianos do (this is an option which I recommend).

The ONLY downside, in my opinion, is the size of the display. It is actually rather tiny, and, as far as I can tell, there is no way to attach an external display.

In my opinion, the controls are reasonably intuitive. And there is one button that you can press which says, "get out of my way and just be a piano".

This is the home piano of the present - frankly, while you need real pianos in concert halls, and even in piano bars, this is what you want in your home - for the kids to play and learn piano on, to plink Christmas carols out on, and to play yourself. Record your music. We need music.

This is the piano of the apartment dweller - because it has a volume control, and a headphone jack. And it can be moved up and down the steps.

I'm not a piano expert. I'm surprising my wife with one of these for Christmas, though. I think she will be really happy with it.

I strongly recommend the optional pedal assembly. The keyboard comes with a portable keyboard style pedal that does sustain, but the triple pedal assembly has a piano pedal feel, and has soft, full sustain, and sostenudo, (which means, in this context, that it will sustain keys you are holding as you press the pedal, but not those that you press after you press the pedal).It takes a few minutes to install, and precisely fits the stand that comes with the keyboard.

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Product Description:
The Yamaha Portable Grand YPG-635 is an affordably priced88-key weighted Graded Hammer Standard action Digital Piano that boasts an authentic grand piano-like touch — heavy in the low end, feathery light in the high, and amazingly responsive all over.

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